Have you noticed concerning health issues or changes in yourself or a family member due to a drug that was prescribed? Changes that effect physical health, mental, emotional or otherwise can bring devastation to personal and/or family life and health. The Law Office of John M. Phillips asks these hard questions, because we can help. We know how it can take years away from you and you shouldn’t have to settle for less than your best life.
If you or someone in your family have been harmed by a dangerous drug or defective medical device, especially those listed here, we urge you to contact our office for a case review.
DANGEROUS DRUGS
Zoloft
Zoloft is a drug commonly prescribed to treat depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Zoloft can cause serious birth defects to developing fetuses when taken by pregnant mothers. These defects include congenital heart defects, craniosynostosis, omphalocele, gastroschisis, persistent pulmonary atresia, limb deformation, spina bifida, and cleft palate.
Actos
Actos is a drug prescribed to treat diabetes. It can be prescribed as a single ingredient drug “Actos” or as either of the combination drugs “Actoplus Met,” “ActoplusMet XR” or “Duetact.” Taking Actos for more than one year can cause bladder cancer. Although it is not always the case, one of the signs of bladder cancer is blood in urine.
Yasmin/Yaz
Yasmin and Yaz are birth control pills. Taking either of these pills can cause blood clotting disorders such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), and venous thromboembolism (VTE). Blood clotting disorders can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and sudden death. These drugs can also cause gallbladder complications, gallbladder failure, and other diseases leading to the need for cholecystectomy.
Fosamax
Fosamax is a drug prescribed to treat osteoporosis, osteopenia, and Paget’s disease. Taking Fosamax for more than one year can result in femur fractures. These fractures often occur with no or low trauma/impact events; typically, a patient falls due to a spontaneous fracture while the patient is simply walking or standing.
Pradaxa
Pradaxa is drug used to prevent strokes and blood clots in patients with atrial fibrillation. It was marketed as a possible replacement for the more common blood thinner, Warfarin. Taking Pradaxa can cause severe and potentially fatal bleeding events (including bleeding in brain or gastrointestinal tract). When these events occur, there is no antidote to reverse the drug’s effects.
Mirena IUD
Mirena is a small IUD that releases small amounts of a hormone when inserted into the uterus. Mirena is supposed to prevent pregnancy for up to 5 years. However, the Mirena IUD can result in any of the following side effects: migration outside the uterine cavity; perforation of the uterine cavity; pelvic inflammatory disease (PID); life threatening ectopic pregnancy; internal bleeding, birth defects; death; and unwanted pregnancy.
DEFECTIVE MEDICAL DEVICES
Transvaginal Mesh
Transvaginal mesh devices are surgically implanted mesh products described as “pelvic floor repair systems” that are used to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP). They include products manufactured by C.R. Bard, American Medical Systems, Boston Scientific, Ethicon, and Coloplast Corp. These products can cause erosion of the vaginal tissue, chronic vaginal drainage, painful intercourse, vaginal bleeding, vaginal infections, vaginal scarring, urinary problems, and recurrence of SUI or POP.
Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants
“Metal-on-metal” hip implants are artificial hip joint components used by orthopedic surgeons for total and partial hip replacement surgeries. They include the following: DePuy Orthopaedics Pinnacle, DePuy Orthopaedics ASR XL Acetabular System, Zimmer Durom Cup, Stryker Rejuvenate, Smith & Nephew R3 metal liner and Wright Medical Profemur. As the metal components of these implants rub against each other, they can break down, which results in premature implant failure, abnormal wear, or elevated levels of chromium and cobalt in the bloodstream, which can cause metallosis and pseudo tumors.
If you or a family member has been harmed by any of these products, I urge you to contact us as soon as possible. To preserve your right to money compensation, reach out to our office today, 904-444-4444.